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US 4,967,043 AGranted
Absorbing overtravel in sequential switching
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorDeclan E. Killarney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch assembly having first and second snap acting switches sequentially actuated by user movement of a single rocker which contains a cantilever blade spring for effecting actuation of the first switch; and, upon continued user movement of the rocker overtravel of the first snap acting switch is absorbed by resilient movement of the cantilever blade member.
Claims15
A switch assembly comprising:
- (a) housing means;
- (b) an actuator member mounted for pivotal movement about a pivot on said housing means and adapted for being user contacted for effecting such movement, said actuator member having thereon overtravel means for absorbing force applied thereto by resilient deflection;
- (c) a first and second switch blade member mounted for individual movement on said housing means, and each operable to be moved between a first and second position for effecting opening and closing of a separate set of electrical contacts;
- (d) a first force transfer means slidably guided for movement on said housing means and operative upon being contacted by said overtravel means during movement of said actuator member to transmit a force to said first switch blade means for effecting said opening and closing of one of said contact sets;
- (e) said actuator means including means defining a contact surface adapted for contact therewith;
- and,
- (f) a second force transfer means, slidably guided for movement on said housing means, and operative upon being contacted by said contact surface to transmit a force to said second switch blade means for effecting opening and closing of the other of said contact sets, wherein upon movement of said actuator member sufficient to effect actuation of said first blade member by said overtravel means acting on said force transfer means and continued movement thereafter of said actuator member causes said resilient deflection of said overtravel mans in response to the increased force of resistance applied thereto by said first blade member through said first force transfer means, whereby said overtravel means absorbs overtravel of said actuator member.
4 more elements
A switch assembly comprising:
- (a) housing means;
- (b) actuator means disposed for user movement on said housing means and including means defining a resilient contact surface and means defining a rigid contact surface;
- (c) first and second switch means disposed on said housing, each of said switch means including a blade member movable, upon application of an actuation force thereto, for effecting opening and closing a set of electrical contacts;
- (d) said actuator means including rigid force transfer means operable upon user movement of said actuator means to cause said resilient contact surface to effect movement of said first switch means blade member for actuation of said first switch means, and said rigid contact surface is operable to effect movement of said second switch means blade member for actuation of said second switch means, whereupon continued user movement of said actuator means after actuation of said first switch means, continued movement of said actuator means causes resilient deflection of said resilient contact surface in response to the increased force of resistance applied thereto by said first blade member through said force transfer means wherein said resilient contact surface absorbs overtravel of said actuator means.
1 more element
A switch assembly comprising:
- (a) housing means;
- (b) an actuator member disposed for movement on said housing and including means defining a rigid contact surface and means defining a resiliently deflectable contact surface;
- (c) a first switch means having a first movable blade member disposed on said housing means for actuation by said resilient contact surface;
- (d) a second switch means having a second movable blade member disposed on said housing means for actuation by said rigid contact surface, wherein upon user movement of said actuator member, said first switch means and said second switch means are sequentially actuated, and said means defining said resilient contact surface absorbs overtravel by resilient deflection upon continued movement of said actuator member after actuation of said first switch means.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.